Pros:- forces your opponents to either play a level 2 units or an emerald carbuncle variant.- possible 1 SP hit, although unlikely. However, it does happen.- can take a hit for your valuable level 3 units, if it is not killed turn one.- activates first SS, punishing early aggression- lashes other shades- can play a level 3 unit turn 2

Cons- using is means sacrificing one LP- ....that's all I can think of.

conclusion:It's pretty good.

When the end comes, and enemies are rushing in from all sides, I will be at your right hand.

It's one of the weakest units on the first, so if the opponent chooses to ignore it avoids killing it your early game is drastically delayed cause you won't get the asp refunded upon death or the other sp you might have from your first soul.

You can counter this flaw by playing a high threat level three unit. For example Magic doll exorcist (-2 SP + damage debuff on undeads) or Lebeau (4 AGI 40 damage).

If your opponents chooses to ignore it, they will have potential RNG problems the turn after (their attacks might hit the shade). This is good for you. It means that that your high threat (and probably fragile) level 3 unit lives one more turn.

Next?

When the end comes, and enemies are rushing in from all sides, I will be at your right hand.

That's not really a counter. It forces you to not play a free revive unit turn two which can be really bad. Even if you play sumer, it still delays field development drastically. I'm just commentating on a con of shade open. If you don't want to even acknowledge it's a con why even bother starting this thread?

- forces your opponents to either play a level 2 units or an emerald carbuncle variant.Everyone in the game does this anyway.

- possible 1 SP hit, although unlikely. However, it does happen.I'm pretty sure if you're leaving 1sp for shade to drain on turn one, you either don't care about it, got ways to deal with it, or are a newbie. More likely to drain t2 imo

- activates first SS, punishing early aggressionYeah I'm with Gon on this one, it's really weak, I try to avoid killing them if possible.

Everything else I agree with, even the "pretty good" conclusion

Self proclaimed user of weirdness, one of the few crazy people to actually use a pure sorceress file...

I'm trying to say, it's not really a con. I haven't been hampered by people not killing shade T1 at all. It doesn't really matter to me. It'll die sooner or later, taking a hit for one of my units in the process.

When the end comes, and enemies are rushing in from all sides, I will be at your right hand.

Pros:-Can only be dodged by skipping first turn -Drains SP from Shade open as well-Sets up a turn 2 shade for a higher probability of connecting-Large drain to Moxie opens-Creates a 1SP advantage v. Catherina opens, rather than just breaking even-Uncommonly used- few prepare for Stronghold-Sets up lvl 1 in other spheres for splashing Great Spirits

Cons:-A Stronghold later in game may drain more spheres-A delayed stronghold from opponent will drain auxiliary spheres